National Troupe Honour Nigeria, Soyinka With Stage Performance Of “Death and the Kings Horseman”

Prof. Soyinka with Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The National Troupe of Nigeria will on 19 – 20 November, at the National Theatre stage one of Professor Wole Soyinka’s most performed plays ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’.

The play is being staged as part of the Troupe’s ongoing Nigeria’s independence celebration performances and in commemoration of Professor Wole Soyinka’s 1986 Nobel Prize feat.

Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe Mr. Akin Adejuwon explained that the staging of the production is more propitious because it is 30 years this year since Africa and indeed the world joined Nigeria in celebrating Professor Wole Soyinka’s award of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

“Recall that Professor Soyinka became the first African to awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. This is a feat that is worth celebrating and we have chosen one of his epic plays which incidentally was written by this time 40 years ago to celebrate the performing and literary icon. Indeed we find the play which has been acknowledged as one of Africa’s best book of the twentieth century fitting too celebrate this living legend and icon,’’ the Artistic Director said.

Adejuwon hinted that the 19 November performance would be a command performance that will be hosted by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

He however stated that the play, which will be directed by Mike Anyanwu and performed by some guest artistes and artistes of the National Troupe will open to a paying audience on 20 November.  “We decided on the public performance and indeed to stage the production in line with the Honourable Minister’s drive for improved non-oil revenue generation through a wholly Nigerian cultural economy. The National Troupe hence showcases the play with a view to further fulfilling its mandate to promote and develop our culturally valuable performance products for both local and international markets,’’ he said.